Acoustical panel mounting element

ABSTRACT

An acoustical panel mounting element for isolating the panel through its connection to a supporting structure against vibration and noise transmitted therefrom, with the element providing an outer metallic shell for insertion into a pocket formed in the panel and an inner mounting screw receiving sleeve embedded in an elastomer ring carried within the shell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In constructing a protective covering for nuclear plants, heatgenerators, water cooling evaporating systems, electrical generatingplants, and the like, there is usually required an outer protectivestructure consisting of insulated panels. These panels normally are notself-supporting and therefore need to be attached to supportingstructure which may comprise part of the basic structure to which thepanel is associated. It is desired to protect the outer insulated panelagainst vibration and noise transmitted from the basic structure throughthe connection between the panel and the structure. The object of thepresent invention is to accomplish this desired function.

The present invention relates to an acoustical panel mounting elementwhich isolates the panel from its connection to a supporting structureagainst vibration and noise generated by such supporting structure andtransmitted therefrom. The mounting element provides an outer metallicshell which sits into a pocket formed in the acoustical panel and whichfaces to the exterior side surface thereof, with the shell housing anelastomer ring through which is frictionally projected a mountingsleeve. A connecting element, which may be a screw or bolt, is adaptedto pass through the sleeve and be completely metallically isolated fromthe shell as well as the panel through the presence of the elastomerring, which will absorb any vibration or noise transmitted through theconnecting element to the sleeve when the panel is connected to asupporting structure.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The object of this invention is achieved by the structure andarrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawings, whichillustrate the preferred form of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mounting element inplace;

FIG. 2 is a detailed sectional view of the mounting element of thisinvention; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the mounting element.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is fragmentarily shown an acoustical panel 10comprising a body of insulating fibrous material 10' and which includesa metallic exterior facing 11. Periodically throughout the panel 10 isformed a recessed pocket 12 opening through the external facing 11. Themounting element 13 is formed to provide a circular body 14 whichprovides at one end a radially extending collar-forming flange 15.Within the circular body 14 is an elastomer ring 16, and frictionallyinserted within the elastomer ring 16 is a metallic sleeve 17.

As viewed in FIG. 1, the mounting element 13 is inserted into the pocket12 provided by the panel 10. The collar 15 will extend beyond theperiphery of the pocket 12 and lie in facial abutment with the adjoiningexterior surface of the facing 11.

The panel 10 will be provided with an elongated passage 18 which lies inaxial alignment with the sleeve 17. Adapted to be projected through thesleeve 17 as well as the passage 18, is the shank 19 of a connectingelement 20. This connecting element 20 may be a screw or bolt and, assuch, will provide an enlarged tool-engaging head 21 which is adapted tobear upon one end of the sleeve 17 when the connecting element 20 isused to attach the panel 10 to a suitable supporting structure (notshown).

Referring to FIG. 2, it is noted that the elastomer ring 16 is of alength less than the length of the circular body 14, so that the ring 16will terminate inwardly of the outer face of the mounting element 13. Itshould also be noted that the ring 16 is of a length less than thesleeve 17, so that surrounding the exposed face of the sleeve 17 is anair space 22 which projects inwardly of the mounting element 13. Itshould also be noted that the tool-engaging head 21 of the connectingelement 20 is of a size so as to overlap the end of the sleeve 17 and bepositioned within the area of the air space 22 so as not to have anymetallic contact with the circular body 14 of the mounting element 13 orthe metallic exterior face 11 of the panel 10.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:
 1. An acoustical panel mounting forisolating the metallic facing of the panel from vibration and noise ofits supporting structure with the panel providing a pocket in one wallfor the panel mounting and having a passage extending therefromthroughout the width of the panel comprising(a) an outer hollow circularbody carried in the pocket formed in the panel and exposed through itsmetallic facing, (b) a radially extending collar-forming flange formedon one end of said body and adapted to have facial abutment with themetallic facing surrounding the pocket formed therein, (c) a cylindricalconnector-receiving inner sleeve within said body and of a length equalto that of said body so as to extend coaxially thereof and of thepassage formed through the panel, (d) a ring of resilient material of asize to embrace said inner sleeve and extending inwardly from the otherend of said body and terminating short of said collar-forming flange soas to form an air space about one end of said sleeve and to isolate saidsleeve from said body and the metallic facing of the panel, and (e) aconnector having an enlarged head in contact with said one end of saidinner sleeve within the periphery of said body and out of contact withsaid ring and having an elongated threaded shank freely journalledthrough said sleeve and the passage formed in said panel for mountingthe panel to a supporting structure.